German energy company EnBW has been revealed as part of a consortium planning to apply for a licence to develop an up to 1400MW offshore wind farm in Norway.
EnBW is part of a group including ASKO Fornybar/NorgesGruppen and Norseman Wind that is looking to build a project across 400 square metres in the Sorlige Nordsjo 2 licensing area of Southern Norway.
The developers said that it aims for at least half of the Nkr30-35bn (€3-3.4bn) development costs to go to Norwegian suppliers.
Aker Solutions is a preferred partner to build and install the foundations, with Hitachi ABB Power Grids and National Oilwell Varco also preferred suppliers to the project, they added.
Operations, logistics and maintenance bases will be built in Rogaland and Agder.
Norseman Wind partner Harald Dirdal said: “We believe that Sorlige Nordsjo 2 is particularly suitable for bottom-fixed technology and have therefore established a consortium that has extensive experience from the North Sea and with developing and operating bottom-fixed offshore wind farms.
“Our business model means that we do not need government subsidies. Thus, the state’s green money can rather be spent on floating offshore wind on Utsira North, as well as on hydrogen and carbon capture.”
EnBW head of portfolio development offshore wind Holger Grubel said: “We are committed to giving our Norwegian partners the experience necessary to compete in the global market for offshore wind.
“Through this project in Sorlige Nordsjo 2, a complete Norwegian value chain for offshore wind is being developed.
“Our ambition is that at least 50% of the project will go to Norwegian supplier companies.”
ASKO Fornybar/NorgesGruppen and Norseman Wind unveiled the plans for the project last November, adding that other “large companies” were also involved but at that time undisclosed.
Sorlige Nordsjo 2 is one of two areas – the other being Utsira North – that the Norwegian government opened on 1 January for licensing for offshore wind.